BVB strengthens U23: Mansaray moves from Bahlinger SC to Dortmund!

BVB strengthens U23: Mansaray moves from Bahlinger SC to Dortmund!

Ismael Mansaray's move to BVB's U23 brings a breath of fresh air into the team. The 21-year-old comes from the regional league team Bahlinger SC and was officially introduced on July 9, 2025. Mansaray has previously made a name for himself as one of the strongest players in the Regionalliga Südwest, which makes him a valuable newcomer to the Dortmund talent factory. At Bahlinger SC he won the South Baden State Cup in the 2024/25 season and also won the Hamburg State Cup with FC Teutonia 05 Ottensen in the 2022/23 season. Mansaray has already impressively demonstrated his skills here in his career so far, having also worked for Komet Arsten, Erzgebirge Aue and Eimsbütteler TV. This diverse training and experience will certainly help him to quickly adapt to the higher demands in Dortmund.

With 25 appearances last season, Mansaray was an important part of his previous team. This makes him the fifth external signing for BVB's U23s. Goalkeeper Marcel Johnen from Alemannia Aachen, Yilmaz Aktas (unemployed) and the offensive players Joseph Boyamba and Bennedikt Wüstenhagen had previously been signed. Numerous talents from the U19 will also strengthen the squad, including central defender Elias Benkara and winger Ousmane Diallo. Ruhr24 offers detailed insights into the new additions here.

Fresh impulses for Signal Iduna Park

While the team is strengthening itself with new players, BVB is also showing progress in the stadium. The lawn in SIGNAL IDUNA PARK was completely renewed during the summer break. Synthetic artificial turf fibers were incorporated into the natural grass using the latest technology and the special process called “tufting”. This innovation creates a robust and weather-resistant playing surface that is ideal for the high demands of football operations. Amazingly, a tufting machine takes about 4.5 hours to complete a complete panel from gate to gate. The entire installation took around a week, with the mascot EMMA symbolically accompanying these exciting innovations. More details on the technical background can be found on the BVB website bvb.de.

BVB is not only active in squad planning, but also attaches great importance to creating the best conditions for its players. This is particularly important when you consider the high pressure and intense games in the coming season. Every detail counts, and that applies to both the players and the pitch on which they will play.

Regional football in view

A look at regional football also shows that other clubs are also active. Paolo Maiella, for example, is moving from TSV Steinbach Haiger to FC Gütersloh. This shows that the regional league is lively and that there are always exciting transfers. Maiella brings experience and has already played 59 games in the Regionalliga West, so she also offers new opportunities for the FCG club management. Kicker provides information here about further movements on the transfer market.

Overall, the coming season promises to be an exciting and challenging year for BVB's U23s and the entire region. BVB sees itself well equipped to remain competitive both in its own talent pool and on the field.